Explosive-engine attachent



1.1., ELLIS AND 0.-A. KERN.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE ATTACHMENT.

APPLYCATION FILED APR. 14. 132i.

1,417,308. 7 I Patented May 23,1922

unirnu srnrss earner orrics.

I JOHN I. Ems AND ORA A. KEEN, OF NEEHVILLE, TENNEEISEE.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE ATTAGHMEN '1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1922..

Application filed April 14, 1921. ,Ser-ial No. 461,354.

To all whom it may COflGT'fb. I

Be it known that we, JOHN T. ELLIS and ORA A. KERN, citizens of the,United States, residing at Nashville, in the county ofDavidson and Stateof Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in anExplosive-Engine Attachment, of WlllCll the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to an improvement in attachments for explosiveengines, and more particularly to a heating attachment for the fuelsupply systems thereof.

The principal object of the invention is to provide for a heatingmeansfor the fuel supply .of an explosive engine, and one in the form ofan attachment or accessory to such engine, whereby to effect avaporization of the fuel just prior to its discharge into the cylinder,or cylinders of an engine; for the more perfect combustion of the fuel;for a marked lessening in amount of carbon deposit within the cylinderor cylinders from such combustion therein; and for obtaining maximumpower from a minimum fuel consumption, with better engine performanceand a more rapid and smooth acceleration thereto. Another object of theinvention is to provide for an attachment of the character men'- tioned,and one in the form of an electric heating coil adapted to be removablylnterposed in the path of the fuel at a point, either within thecarburetor, or the engine manifold, or between the same as may bedesired or convenient, and which may be readily connected to ordisconnected from a suitable source of current supply, such as theignition or lighting cirduits of an automobile, or a separate battery orgenerator circuit as may be feasible or necessary. 7

With the foregoing and other-objects in view-the. invention 1 resides inthe certain novel and useful construction and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appendedclaims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 1 Figure 1is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, of an engine manifoldshowing the preferred embodiment and application of the inventionthereto, and,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the device per se.

Referring to the drawing. the numeral indicates a conventional form ofengine manifold, llthe point of connection therewith of a carburetor(not shown) and 1.2 an interiorly threaded opening in the inlet portionof the manifold adapted forthe inser tion and securing therein of aheating attachment forming the subject matter of the present invention.

The heating attachment comprises an elongated cylindrical shell 13closed at its inner end and having the outer end portion of its wallthickened to a greater diameter to provide an exteriorly threadedportion 14 adapted for engagement in the boss 12 of the engine manifold10, the innerportion of the shell 13 being of a length toextend entirelyacross the passage leading to the manifold proper from the end of thesame to be connected to a carburetor. The extreme outer end of. theportion it beyond the threaded section thereof, is formed to provide aheaded portion '15 having flat tool or wrench en gaging surfaces forfacilitating the inser- I tion and removal of the shell to and fromposition within the boss 12.

Extending within the bore of the shell 13, and spaced concentrically ofthe wall thereof, is a core of high heat resisting quality, the innerend of which is of a screw 17 threaded through the integral end wall ofthe shell 13, while the outer end of the same is formed with acylindrical enlargement the shell inward from its open end. The outerthickened end portion of the shell 13 is formed with a counter-bore 19,concen trically of the main bore thereof, andsnugly fitting into thiscounter-bore is a plug 20, also of an insulatin the longitudinal centerof which is extended a binding'post or screw 21, the free threaded endof the latterbeing provided with a bind- .ing nut 22, for the connectionthereto of one conductor 23 of th cuit (not shown). I The inner headedend of the binding post or screw 21 is disposed within a semi-circularrecess 24 formed in the innerend of the plug 20, and which provides fora space between the same and the opposed end of the core 16. Coiledaround the core 16'is a heating element or resistance wire 25 which hasone end secured beneath the inner headed end of the binding post orscrew 21., and its other end engaged in the socket opening 26 formed inthe inner end of the core 16 for the reception of the supporting screw17, which screw 17,

e current supply cirsupported in position by means 18 which snugly fitsthe bore of g, material, and through 16 of an insulating materialogether with the shell forms a ground connection between the coil andthe en gine manifold. For retaining the plug 20 securely in positionwithin the counter-bore ill of the shell 13,9. set screr is threadedradially inward of the thickened. end portion 'lff), that-its inn endfrictionally contacts the periphery oi t a plug.

.l roin the foregoing, it will be obvious that all oi the fuel dra'vnirom its source of carhuration will be subjected to the heating eilectof the coil within the shell 13, in addition to being furtherconditioned for more perfect combustion by its impacting action againstthe wall of the latter, since the shell extends entir across the path ofthe fuel in a manner to rovide restricted passages at its opposite forthe flow of the fuel around the same to the manifold proper.

For the installation or" these heating coils,.

which may be manufactured as separate units capable of generalapplication to enplosive en 'ines, it is contemplated to simply drill asuitabie sized opening in the manitold as now provided on engines,thread the same for the reception of the threaded portion of the shell13, and close the opening with a suitable screw-plug (not shown), whenthe heating device is not in use, as in extremely hot weather. In coldweather, or when otherwise desired, this plug can be removed, and theshell 13 threaded into position, with the binding post oi"; screwthereof properly connected to one side of the current supply circuit ashereinbefore stated.

It is to be thoroughly understood that, While the attachment has beendescribed in specific terms and illustrated in preferred details ofconstruction, arrangement and application, various changes andmodifications of the same may be provided or resorted to Without depaand scope of the'inventi Having thus fully descrioed the-invention, whatis claimed, is z- 1. An attachment of the class described comprising acylindrical metal snell clos d at its inner end, and adapted to beremorably inserted into the manifold of an engine, a core oi insulatingmaterial disposed within said shell and spaced concentrically of thebore thereof, a coil of resistance wire wound on said core, screwthreaded inwardly of the closed end of said shell and engaging theinnerend oi? said core to space the same concentrically thereof, said screwacting to secure the inner terminal of said coil and to ground the sameto said shell, and an insulated binding post carried at the outer end ofsaid shell having connection with the other term Hill. of said coil.

2. The combination with an explosive engine including the carbureterconnections leading to and connecting the intake inanifold of theengine, of a hollow metal shell closed at its inner end and adapted forthreaded engagement with an opening formed in the intake manifold of theengine and extending in the path of the fuel flowingtherethrough fromthe carbureter connections thereof, a core of insulating materialextending within said shell and spaced from the walls thereof, a closureplug for ting from the spirit the outer open end or" said shell, abinding post carried by said plug closure, an electrically heated coilwound on said core and having one of its ends connected to said bindingpost and the other end thereof grounded to said shell and intakemanifold.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures hereto.

' JOHN T. ELLIS.

ORA A. KERN.

